Feminine Power – A Celebration!

Happy International Women’s Day, and Women’s History Month! I was blown away by the response to my request for submissions on the theme of ‘feminine power.’ My idea had been to create a weaving together of different expressions of feminine power, as it comes through each of us uniquely. It has surpassed my expectations! I hope you will browse, and come back, and visit each and every link to feel what we have created and emanated together.

Truly thank you, to all of you who participated. And for those who didn’t but would like to, I invite you to do so in the comments.

First up is my own contribution, which is the final article in my 3-part series on kundalini over at Meditate Like a Girl. This one is on Kundalini Rising in Women. Below is an excerpt, paired with the beautiful new site badge (note that Meditate Like a Girl has changed formats, and is accepting submissions anytime, so I hope some of you will consider submitting):

Created by Caroline Manrique at NoWordz Photography

“Teachings about kundalini in women can pretty much be summed up in one phrase: We’ve got it it all backwards. By this I mean that historically and culturally, the dominant message regarding women and power is that women have less, and men have more. In terms of the power structures that have dominated our seen world, this has certainly been true, and we have been working hard – particularly in the last 100 years – to redress this…But in the unseen world – unseen by the physical eyes anyway – the exact opposite is true. On the subtle plane, where kundalini operates, women have more power, or rather, a more open and direct access to power.” [read more…]

“To me, the dark goddess is the primal element of feminine power, where you are fully, deeply in your body and connected to your own soul. I had spent my whole life focused outward: amassing knowledge, trying new techniques, engaging teachers and healers to help me move forward—and all that has certainly helped my journey of self-development and healing. But in the dark goddess’s realm, the mind’s learning is kind of useless—which is scary for someone like me who has relied so much upon the cerebral. She asks for integrity, experience, courage, and heart. The trust required is tremendous—the dark goddess has made it very clear to me that she is not my guide, she is my teacher. She doesn’t lead the way—she instructs, suggests a path, and then allows me to find my way, using what I’ve learned. Since I’ve been working with her fierce, transformative power, my focus is deep within my self, rather than on external acts, seeking approval, or managing other’s perceptions of me. For the first time, I feel fully embodied; I feel what I AM. And I am sovereign, empowered by the Divine Feminine, the dark and the light.”

Michaela Haas, author of Dakini Power, submitted artwork of Pema Chodron created by Noa Kaplan, (Dakini Power features a wonderful interview with Pema, as well as 11 other woman Tibetan Buddhist teachers.)

Pema Chodron by artist Noa Kaplan, copyright Noa Kaplan

Robin King submitted an insightful article on Embodied Forms of Feminine Power in Buddhism which I liked so much I posted it as a guest author post at BellaOnline. Here’s an overview related to Samantabhadri:

Samantabhadri in Union

“Samantabhadri represents the awareness-wisdom aspect of the mind. Her naked, unadorned appearance reflects the essential nature of mind in its essence. She “is the expression of limitless space, the natural state that is the ultimate truth… Samantabhadri is the expression of that which cannot be expressed in words or symbols, the ultimate nature of mind, the limitless expanse of simplicity” (Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism, Judith Simmer-Brown, Shambhala, 2002).

Meditation on Samantabhadri is an invitation to let go of seeking, to let go of striving, to let go of accomplishing, to let go of ideas of power. It is an invitation to let go of thinking that you are a doer, and to let go of the belief that anything needs to be fixed. It is an invitation to rest in pure awareness. Through her meditation, worldly experiences soften their hold on the mind, and unconditional love remains… an unconditional “Yes” to the beauty of Being. The singer Kirtana described this meditation beautifully in her song ‘Already Home, Already Free’ on her album Unseen Grace:

Nothing to seek. Nothing to gain. Nothing to know.Nothing to lose. Nothing to do, but let go.Let’s rest here, where the future and the past disappear… Here–in the sanctity of Now.”Rosie Good of Yoga Bindu shared a poem by Alice Fulton, who is “complex and wonderful”

“Feminine Power is most deeply sourced from Living simultaneously in the Sensual and the Sacred. The sensual urgings of your amazing body are actually longings connected with your divinity…connected to a deep spiritual longing to be more fully self-actualized and embodied as a human on this planet.” [Check out Deonesea’s DailyOm course ‘Allow Yourself to Have Sensual Pleasure’ here…]

“Women are now working as much as men and are making more money in many cases, while still doing the majority of work at home. It’s time women choose partners who will support their dreams and help to successfully balance work and home visions.” [Read More…]

“To me Feminine Power is being able to Be Myself, whatever that represents at the time. What is nourishing for my soul and assists my Feminine Power is the stories of other women, having appropriate information and exchanging support with other women …” [read more…]

Cate Frazier-Neely, voice teacher and blogger (including on the mid-life journey), offers this fascinating insight into working with animal energies as feminine power:

“I fell into the intuitive process of working with animal energies quite by accident in about 2002. There seem to be as many ways of working with animal medicine as there are explorers, teachers and artists, but for me, an animal comes to me in my mind’s eye or meditation, and that is an indicator that they have lessons for me. It has taken me a lifetime to accept this manner of receiving information and healing as valid. To celebrate Feminine Power, I offer this blog post about my first in depth experience, working with octopus energy, of all things! [read post…]

“Feminine Power is the ability to create from within into the without. It is the unfolding of potential from within all. It is the power of the Earth to birth, sustain and take back all life (which is reflected in women as birth, nurturing and intercourse). Feminine power emerges from the inside out, in contrast to the masculine tendency to try to rule from the outside in (as per the military, gov’t etc). Feminine power in this way is the power to conceive, be it a baby, a thought, an idea, a planet or a universe. It is the emergence of a hidden potential into being – much as an egg is a potential being that becomes actualized. It is non-local, for the process in humans is as much a conception of the mind as well as a biological conception. Again, this same process is universal. So, when you see seeds in spring springing forth as new plants, this is exactly the essence of femininity.”

“The woman was wild and free. She lived in her body. Occupied it fully. She loved her body. Her body loved her. She loved her mind and how it could mix just the right herbs to help the villagers. She was a healer. She was in love with love and in love with life.” [read more…]

From Akemi Gaines, Akashic Record Reader, whom you can connect with on Facebook here:

“We have been incarnated as both men and women, and will continue to do so. We all have both male and female powers within us.”

This image from Pema at Wonder Momma, along with a blog post, excerpted here:

“Feminine Power is delicious and subtle.

In my earlier years, I felt feminine power was something loud, absolute and powerful. As years went by and I was introduced to the pervasive patriarchy and to the truth of widespread sexual abuse and misogyny, I thought feminine power needed to be absolutely fierce and very ‘take no prisoners’.” [read more…]

Susan from Mildly Mystical, contributes ‘A Different Way to Fight’ about her friend’s feminine power facing cancer, excerpted here:

“She is like a birch tree, rooted in her life, bending with the force of the strong winds blowing and straightening when they subside. I respect her strength and courage, and I appreciate her wisdom. I am blessed to have her as a friend.” [read entire post…]

“As a visual artist and a healing practitioner I have a passion for living a soul centred existence and assisting others to do the same. One way I achieve this is to affirm and reaffirm my connection to the power of the feminine through my artwork by using deeply powerful archetypal symbols and forms. One form I am profoundly connected to is the mandorla which, for me, symbolises the power of the divine feminine.” [read more…]

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”

“I had Uterine cancer 5 yrs. ago, and discovred the Indian goddess, Durga. I felt her many arms came to help keep the cancer at bay until I could have removal surgery. Since then, I have created this chalk watercolor piece in her honor. ”

Durga

“The ‘Exquisite Uterus’ is a group collaboration organized as a traveling exhibit in Wisconsin.”

Exquisite Uterus

“‘Shekina’, a pastel of the feminine face of god as the great power above our crown chakra. The image was a reflection of Her great power in the universe to guide and awaken.”

“As women, we’ve often gotten lost in our sexuality, mistaking it for love. Men who have felt threatened by a woman’s power and her sexuality, have not been kind. Neither the lost woman nor the fearful man is operating from the high watch of their Divinity. Neither honors the self and therefore, is incapable of holding our greatest gift, that of our sexuality, in high holiness.

“Living from your heart is quite easy. It’s never the BIG stuff in life that creates the ripples of change. It’s not the promotion, the expensive car, the designer clothes, the large house or the “well knowns” in your circle of ‘friends’. It’s the smallest, simplest acts of kindness, the knowing smile, the quiet touch, the soft response; being in service with compassion and gratitude, that’s how we live from our hearts. That is what evokes change. That is what empowers us and brings the joy that we hunger for in our daily lives.”

Jay Schryer, truly a man of the goddess, wrote this poem, and an accompanying blog post:

Divine Mother,

Protect me as the mother bear protects her cubs
Wrap around me like a warm, soft blanket and
Cuddle me.

Pour your love into my heart and quench my unquenchable thirst and
Bathe me in the flames of your passion until I burn for you—
And only you.

Teach me how to dance in the rain while others merely get wet.
Teach me how to dance in the flames while others get burned.
Teach me how to dance on the wind while others simply fall.
Teach me how to dance on the earth while others only crawl.

Your power is the power of grace: it soothes, comforts, and heals.
Your power is the power of wisdom: it teaches, guides, and helps.
Your power is the power of courage: it chases away fear and uncertainty.
Your power is the power of patience: nature never hurries, yet all is accomplished.
Your power is the power of compassion: it heals through a gentle touch.
Your power is the power of kindness: it teaches us how to treat each other.
Your power is the power of love, and it is the greatest of all powers.

You are the Divine Creator. All life flows from you, Divine Mother.
You are the Divine Destroyer. All life returns to you, Divine Mother.
You are everything,
And I am yours.

“How many times have you been told to be silent, to hold your voice in, to not speak your truth? As women, we have been encouraged at an early age to put a lid on our emotions, lest we seem “hysterical”, “overemotional”, or “weak”. In honor of International Women’s Day this Saturday, I share the story of a patient’s liberation in speaking her truth, and reveal why our voice is actually not our weakness, but our greatest strength.”

“A few months ago, as my flame dimmed to a flicker, I prepared for my final exhale from this body. What happened instead was a benevolent rescue by the Goddess, in many forms and guises, and being inspired by her once again.” [read more…]

Ravyn with Blood Moon

And from Bonnie Snyder, Energy Alchemist and Life Balance Coach, of Diamond Pathways, this image and blog post, “Evolving Feminine Power”:

“Our feminine power is always evolving. And, I believe feminine power is the key to living our hearts’ desires and dreams as well as creating positive change for our world. What “Feminine Power” is and how it influences us has drastically transformed as the more traditional societal roles that women have been expected to fit into — and have embodied for centuries — have changed in recent years.” [read more…]

Elizabeth Bain, intuitive energy guide for animals and humans, shares her own experiences of feminine power, in her own blog post, excerpted here:

“”The times that feminine power has shown up for me have been varied. From specific meditations focused on feminine power to soothing assistance while working on self-healing to the great mothers of different animals appearing on my meditation walks. My experience of feminine power is as an energy that is woven within everything in the universe. Just as human DNA carries both the genes of the mother and the father, so too does all energy carry strands of feminine power and masculine power. I do not see the weavings of the universe so much as I know/sense them spatially.” [read full post…]

“We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other peoples’ models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open.”

-Shakti Gawain, submitted by Shari Saginor

From Joy of Facets of Joy, along with her blog post ‘An Invitation to Claim Your Divine Birthright and Center into Divine Power”:

“Feminine power is not reserved for “goddesses” and people with special powers – it is an energy available to each of us, a connector energy that we may simply breathe into and create with.” [read more…]

And last, but certainly not least (in fact, I saved it for last because it is so moving and powerful), Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’s speech on beauty, contributed by Diantha Harris of Life Potentials.

May you come into your own feminine power this day, and may it lead you to the happiness, love, abundance, and awakening that are your birthright.

Yes to all, isn’t it amazing the different perspectives? There are some similar themes – nature, sensuality, nurturing – but also many differences. And BTW, I specifically decided on a theme of ‘feminine power’ as opposed to ‘divine feminine’ because I sensed it would bring forth more diversity in expressions, and I’m glad I did…

Wow. This article is overflowing with goodness – insights and reflection to explore, center into and celebrate! I am sitting in my backyard, bird chirping, ocean in my site, sun peeking between tree branches…reading each article, allowing my self to feel the energy–the beautiful, gorgeous energy emanating from all of these creative expressions together. What a gift! Thank you!

Reblogged this on melzzartt and commented:
The following is a blog post that celebrates femininity with artwork and writings by various women. The blog is written by Lisa Erickson, who is a mediation teacher and energy worker. Some of my work is featured in this post. :)